Red Sox Journal: Farrell not playing any wildcard games

Entering their weekend series with the Yankees holding an 8 1/2-game lead in the American League East, the Red Sox could be forgiven for thinking about potential postseason opponents.

By TIM BRITTON

BOSTON — Entering their weekend series with the Yankees holding an 81/2-game lead in the American League East, the Red Sox could be forgiven for thinking about potential postseason opponents. Manager John Farrell, though, is still concentrating on the now.

“I’m aware of who is involved [in the wildcard race] and that it’s certainly tightened up,” Farrell said. “But not above and beyond that. Not even who we might we see. We have to get there first. And that’s the beacon, what we’re doing — not so much what everyone else is doing.”

Boston does have a larger investment in the wildcard race than the other division leaders. The Red Sox hold a three-game lead on the Athletics for the A.L.’s best record, meaning they’d be in line to face the winner of the one-game wildcard playoff in the Division Series.

The Sox will also have a hand in determining who claims the second wild card. Boston just finished a three-game series with the Rays, and nine of its final 14 games are against the Yankees and Orioles. Tampa Bay leads New York by one and Baltimore by 21/2 for the second wildcard.

Cleveland was one back after winning Friday afternoon, and Kansas City sits 21/2 back.

The Rangers are two games up on the Rays for the first wildcard and home-field in the one-game playoff.

“It’s great. I can’t imagine what the final week of the season is going to be like,” Farrell said. “The second wildcard has really played into that; the meaning to every game played throughout that final week is heightened. And this year might be 10-fold where it was a year ago.”

Farrell isn’t sure, though, how he feels about a one-game playoff “series.”

“There’s probably two views,” he said. “I think in spring training, yeah I’ll sign up for a one-game play-in. And then you get through it and you’ve gone 162 games, you hate to see a season in the balance of one game.”

David Ross, who lost the inaugural wildcard game last season as a member of the Braves, suggested a different system back in spring training.

“I feel like they can reward the team that finished first,” Ross said. “We were something like seven games up on St. Louis. If it were my choice, I would give it a two-game playoff, where the team that’s chasing the lead team has to beat them twice. Pretend it’s a three-game series and the team that’s up is up one game. So if we would have won, we’d have gone on, and if they won, they’d have to beat us again the next day.”

Ellsbury ‘on target’

Jacoby Ellsbury has started physical activities as he begins his comeback from a compression fracture in his right foot.

Ellsbury is able to leave his walking boot temporarily in order to do some basic exercises, both in the pool and on dry land.

“He’s on target,” Farrell said, while adding there was still no timetable for Ellsbury’s return to game action. “It’ll be the tolerance as we go through it.”

Jake Peavy is fine after being hit in the wrist with a line drive Thursday night.

“That was a glancing blow, fortunately,” Farrell said. “But there was no residual effect.”

Peavy wasn’t even wearing anything on his wrist before Friday’s game. He’s scheduled to start next Wednesday against the Orioles.

Brewers claim De La Torre

Right-handed reliever Jose De La Torre was claimed by the Brewers off waivers on Friday. De La Torre had been designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday to make room for Clay Buchholz on the 40-man roster.

De La Torre, acquired last summer from Cleveland for Brent Lillibridge, split time this year between Triple-A Pawtucket and the majors. In seven big-league games this year, De La Torre allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 111/3 innings.

He was one of Pawtucket’s most reliable relievers for much of the year, pitching to a 2.75 ERA in 521/3 innings over 34 games.

De La Torre is the second reliever the Red Sox have lost to waivers this September. The Cubs claimed Daniel Bard after he had been designated earlier this month.

Comforts of home

The Red Sox kicked off their final homestand of the season on Friday with a 47-25 record at Fenway Park — second-best in baseball behind the Braves.

The 47 wins at home are already Boston’s most since 2009, when the Sox went a remarkable 56-25 at Fenway. With Friday's 8-4 win over New York, Boston has notched it 90th win of the season, 48th at home.